Boyd has announced the launch of its Rack Emulator, a programmable thermal testing tool designed to optimize the deployment of liquid cooled data centers. The new system is intended to help data center owners and operators verify thermal performance and improve deployment efficiency for artificial intelligence server infrastructure.
According to Boyd, the Rack Emulator simulates the pressure drop and heat dissipation characteristics of a typical rack. The device uses automation to test coolant distribution units and facility cooling systems, allowing operators to validate performance before connecting any critical IT hardware. This reduces the risk of equipment damage and supports safer startup operations. Users program the emulator to simulate any rack by connecting to the liquid cooling system and inputting capacity and pressure drop protocols.
The Rack Emulator also provides electrical input testing before servers are installed. Boyd reports that the system operates like a traditional thermal load bank and simulator, but is packaged in a rack-sized form factor. This allows the tool to fit directly into a data center row, minimizing space requirements during thermal validation and making it easy to deploy at scale without specialized training. The company also highlights ease of shipping, storage, and handling as factors that help reduce total cost of ownership.
Boyd states the Rack Emulator is available to order immediately and will begin shipping in September 2025. David Huang, President of Boyd’s Thermal Solutions Division, said, “Boyd’s new Rack Emulator will help our end clients reliably and safely validate thermal performance and safeguard their IT equipment,” adding, “We wanted to make it easy to operate so our customers can efficiently deploy at scale, accelerating their data center builds.”
Boyd notes that its liquid cooling tools, including the new Rack Emulator, are designed with modularity for straightforward adoption and are supported by its global service model.
Source: Boyd
